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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 386, 18 June 1866, Page 2

The Nelson Examiner soys :—“ About six months ago, the addres of the Aborigines’ Protection Society tu the natives of New Zealand was published in England, after it had enjoyed a private circulation amongst the Hlaoris for a considerable time. The address boro the usual trade mark of the society, and was characterised as much by its injustice to the colonists as by the imbecility of its advice to its proteges. The same sheet that told us that ‘ some colonists were good’ —an obvious insinuation that the greater part were wicked., and that Bishop Selwyn, Sir William Martin, and Archdeacon Hadfield were the only men of influence whom this natives could trust—pointed out the propriety of their living in separate rooms, and of at once importing a printing press from England, in order that they might publish their grievances themselves. The scene inside a Maori pa which our imagination conjures up on the arrival of this new civilizing agent, is curious. Fancy half-a-dozen compositor-savages, unencumbered with clothing, ranged ‘at cases,’ busy in putting into type the latest intelligence from the pakeha, or chronicling the last cannibal dinner which had ‘come off" with the usual eclat. We can. imagine the dusky editor reading the proofs of these ‘ black letters,’ or writing a hopeful leader on the probalo destruction of the white man from off the face of the islands ; or giving an account of the phrenological development of the last slain bouevolent missionary, or a dissertation upon the apparent difference of muscle in the Maori and white man, as shown by a specimen fore-arm of the letter. And then the printing rooms ! What a scene of triumph for Caxtou, could he but have lived to see it. Sheet after sheet of the Hau-hau Times thrown off from the groaning machine, whilst round about it stand warriors armed with ‘ meres ’ and rifles, ready to withstand any assault of the pakehas on the liberty of the press.”

The Nixon Monument. —Some fine specimens of Hobart Town stone, brought to this port by the barque Bella Mary, for the contractor for the Nixon monument, are now being landed from that vessel. Several of the blocks weigh over four tons, and are well worthy of inspection.—lbid.

The ‘ New Zealand Herald,’ 7th June, says : The glorious uncertainty of the law was illustrated yesterday, in a very remarkable manner. The frequency of fires in this city of late, had fixed public attention very steadily upon two charges of arson, pending before the Judge of the Supreme Court, Yesterday Morris Freedman was brought up, charged with setting fire to his premises in Victoria-street. The witnesses were arraigned, their evidence received, when, lo! the very witness whose evidence, according to the learned council, was most material, had gone away either through inadvc-vtar.ee or some, other cause not understood. Tin-Judge his dissatisfied. But there Was no help for it. The jury were directed to return a verdict of “ Not guilty.’’ What made the matter more surprisriug to the public, was that the missing witness was Mr Jones, the Secretary to the Auckland Insurance company, who were practically the prosecutors, at all events who were the injured parties by the alleged burning, “ The force of Justice could uo further go. She found it burning and she left, it so.'*

A New Mautjfacxtjre.—We take the following from the ‘New Zealand Herald The quantity of dressed flax fibre now being prepared for the Auckland market ia weekly increasing. A large quantity is used in the manufacture of cordage, but we may expect that the demand for fibre for use within the province will soon be less than the supply. Has it never struck those who are able to turn the idea to account, that the New Zealand flax, coarsely dressed, would make an excellent material for the manufacture of bags and sacks, large quantities of which are imported into this aGu other provinces in New Zealand P Tks price of such bags varies from Is 6d to 2s each. Manufactured on the spot, they might be sold at a lower rate than those imported, and still leave a handsome profit to the manufacturer. The Southern provinces, and even Australia, would be found a ready market for largo quantities of these goods. We believe it would well repay some .enterprising individuals to procure the necessary rough machinery for the manufacture of these coarse fabrics, and at once open up a new industry, lucrative to themselves, and beneficial to the public. To those complaining of want of elbow room for the profitable employment of capital and skill, hero is an opening. Thera are, we believe, many such. Fortunes will yet ba made here from sources that will cause the less energetic to say with vexation by and bye, “ I could have done the same myself if I had only thought of it.” Aye, there’s the rub—these things are not thought of, or only now and then by some one sharper than his neighbours—such is the man whom the world calls lucky, but who owes hiaowu good fortune to his intelligence, his enterprise, and his energy,”

Dr Norman MacLeod sometime ago lost caste -with his brethren. Highland and Lowland alike, by some outrageously heterodox opinions on the Sabbath. He has, however, managed to gain back the former portion of his adherents once more by sound views touching the Highland bagpipe. At a soiree, held in connection with St. Colnraba’s (Gaelic) Church, Glasgow, a piper made his appearance on the platform, and played several airs, to the evident delight of the audience'. Dr MacLeod saw his chance and spoke as follows:—“ I don’t know what it is that’s about this Highland music, but I have for a number of years been hearing music of the best kind, and played by the world’s best, performers, and I can listen and enjoy it with all my heart.; but the moment I hear that auld bagpipe, it takes me by the throat (laughter and applause.) If ever you find a Highlander that does not care about a bagpipe, take care to get a receipt from him when you pay him an account ("roars of laughter.) If he has no musical ear, don’t blame the poor fellow, but pity him (renewed laughter)—but if he has a mu-ieal ear, and don’t like the pipes, take care of that chap (laughter.) There is a great deal of talk about organs, but 1 think there is a great advantage in an instrument which is not filled by- w ind by t he handles of bellows, but by the strong'hearty breath of an out-and-out Highlandinau* (great laughter.) Did you ever hear of an organ being played in advance of a regiment going up in the charge against the French ? What would organs have done in Egypt and at Waterloo? (laughter) Why, a single shot would have destroyed them. What could they do in the Galway boat with a heavy breeze blowing, in a grand Highland glen, ur on the top of our mountains P (applause.) There is no music in the world to bo compared with the bagpipes (renewed applause.) I sav it seriously. You cannot improve the bagpipe; it is the best of its kind. Consider its associations. People who don’t know our associations don’t understand them, and the morti’s the pity (laughter and applause.) When you and I hear the bagpipe, it is not merely hearing the sounds that come from its drone; it is more than that, for we dream of the old glen and the old fire side. Whenever you hear it throughout the world—and I'have heard it in many places—it always sets a Highlander dreaming. He begins to dream of the old house in the glen, and sees in it his father, his mother, and his kinsmen ; he dreams of the old kirk, and he sees the people in it; of the churchyard, and he thinks of those who are lying in it; —all come up to his imagination at the call of the bagpipes (loud applause.) It is very difficult to define what this music is. There is music in nature that you cannot set down for the pianoforte. It is in the roaring of the winds, the moaning of the and the cry of the wild bird—and all this you hear in the bagpipes. It is the music that Highlanders understand best; and though a Highlander may live till he is fourscore years of age, and may h<mr all the music that was ever composed, yet there is something iu the bagpipes that will stir him when nothing else can,” (Cheers.)

Yaltje of Bees in New South Wales. -Wo take the following from the Australasian:—“ A great source of profit attached to the clover paddocks of lllawarra, and not insignificant one either, is the * honey produce.’ In Dapto J ambaroo, the valley of the Minumurra, hundreds of small holders pay their rents by their honey and wax. At the Woodstock brewery we have known bui-loek-dray loads delivered at 4d per lb—three to four tors of honey from one farmer's hives : tins is a great fact. Bees are one of the in»itiiutiuns of the district, and it is not unusual to see a row of hives, of over 100 in number, in front of • small colter’s homestead. From a single Hollow gum-tree in that beautiful district as much as OUOib honey and 121 b wax has been taken,” Examination of G-overnmbst Officers. During the course of the present month the employes in II.M. Customs will undergo, wo hear, a literary examination, and it is said that Mr Gisborne and Mr Seed will be sent up from Wellington to conduct the affair. The subjects on which the examination will be held are not authoritatively made known, but it is supposed that they will bo of a very comprehensive nature, including a thorough knowledge of geography, three modern languages, mathematics, natural piiilo.-ophy, and mechanics. We are not aware whether the system of holding such examinations is to be carried out in the case of officers holding appointments in other departments,—New Zealand Herald, hill June.